Mentorship: one phrase, 10 letters, enormous affect. Simply ask any of the bartenders who’ve participated in The Home of Suntory DOJO programme through the years. Since its launch in 2020 this unique model partnership and growth sequence has greater than delivered on its intention to impart the information, knowledge and experience behind Japanese bartending to appreciative bartenders within the UK. And people lucky sufficient to have taken half have the life lengthy abilities to show it.
The intricacies, disciplines and philosophies behind the traditional arts of flower arranging, sushi making and tea ceremonies are simply a few of the specialisms which have been explored within the masterclasses or to provide them their right title ‘Monozukuri Masterclasses’. However greater than a cursory peek into the talents, every session is led by a Grasp of their respective craft and put into follow by these collaborating within the programme. As Ryan Mackie from Lyaness Bar who’s taking part on this yr’s line up advised us: “It’s been superb how the resonance of the eye to element in all of the masterclasses have come collectively. Taking a look at how the smallest particulars in all the things you do can elevate your bartending to the nth diploma is what I’ve taken away from every of the periods.”
What’s all of it about then?
In a nutshell, The Home of Suntory DOJO programme encapsulates the philosophy of non-public development. Put it this fashion, in Japanese tradition there’s no such factor as excellent, as an alternative all elements of our lives are about steady enchancment. The Home of Suntory UK Ambassador Raffaele Di Monaco put it into context: “If one thing doesn’t go the best way you supposed it to go, fairly than framing issues on what went mistaken, you consider what you possibly can enhance subsequent time; what you can also make higher – it’s a way more optimistic outlook.”
This yr the Monozukuri Masterclasses took in The Artwork of Seasoning & Aesthetics which showcased the marvels of Kazarigiri, an enchanting, very exact methodology of ornamental meals reducing, in addition to a Kaisake brewery tour adopted by an ikebana masterclass (specializing in the artwork of flower arranging). The opposite, equally thoughts blowing workshop targeted on The Artwork of Mixing & Hospitality with a dashi making tutorial, adopted by a Japanese tea ceremony. Each periods have been led by Masters and accompanied by challenges primarily based on the learnings of the day and tastings of spirits in The Home of Suntory portfolio.
As unique media companions of this yr’s programme, we made it our enterprise to attend one of many workshops to expertise the talents being taught first hand. On the agenda? The Artwork of Mindfulness – Kaizen Classics.
The situation:
Fordham Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Okay, let’s rewind right here. You understand we mentioned that there was no such factor as excellent in Japanese tradition? We make an exception for the placement for this yr’s DOJO programme: the blissful Fordham Abbey in Cambridgeshire. Set in 75 acres of superbly manicured grounds, it’s dwelling to the Dojima Sake Brewery, an organization with roots in Japan however which has been brewing sake on this setting since 2018.
Each inch of the place oozes Japanese calm and tranquility. In addition to a Japanese Zen Backyard, there’s a room devoted to Tea Ceremonies, a walled kitchen backyard – they even have the one official shrine exterior of Japan within the grounds. “We requested ourselves how will we take the bartenders to Japan with out taking them to Japan?” Raffaele knowledgeable us about why they picked this specific spot. Our opinion? They couldn’t have discovered a extra genuine spot in the event that they tried.
Selection of location apart, we’ve to speak in regards to the consideration to element – these are the issues that, to us, actually epitomise what DOJO is all about. Issues like being greeted on the door as quickly as we arrived on the Abbey with an oshibori, (a pristine white hand towel, dampened and heated just-so). Greater than a software to refresh, it served to cleanse away the toll of our journeys and open our senses as much as what lay forward. Ditto the dainty cups of tea served within the Japanese Backyard, every sip bringing us nearer to interior serenity.
Then there’s the equipment… After heading to their allotted bedrooms, the bartenders returned dressed of their branded kimono jackets. Utilitarian blue, with their initials proudly embroidered on the precise facet in white and ‘DOJO’ in crimson Japanese script on the again, this was one other of the seemingly small however vital touches that deliberately or in any other case unified the group – Raffaele included. There are not any logos, no patterns or loud colors to jar the attention – all the things is calm, balanced and equal. And to make sure that it stays that approach, even the water we drank all through the day was poured from sinuous glass decanters charged with charcoal sticks to purify and soften each sip. It’s a follow utilized in Japan for hundreds of years.
First issues first
Fascinating truth: Each time a brand new bottle is produced on the Dojima Sake Brewery at Fordham Abbey, it’s taken to the Shinto Temple within the grounds and worshipped to the Deity of Sake. “We do the identical factor at The Home of Suntory,” Raffaele advised us. “Shinto is a way of life in Japan, it idolises nature, concord and stability in life and Shinjiro Torii, our founder was a giant believer.”
We obtained a uncommon likelihood to expertise the ritual first hand, from being instructed on the proper solution to proceed via the Torii Gate, to getting into the Temple and being current on the blessing of the Suntory bottles, all whereas praying for friendship and well being.
The Artwork of Mindfulness
Half 1
Mastering meditation
By this time, we’d just about shrugged off all traces of our metropolis personas and slipped into extra tranquil mode. All the higher for the lesson in hand: meditation. And this being The Home of Suntory DOJO, one thing very particular was in retailer. It got here within the type of Tamara Power, led by Tamara Grasp Keiichi Tada.
“Tamara Power is a really area of interest meditation fashion that balances yin and yang,” Raffaele defined forward of our session. “It harmonises optimistic power – in your self and others and is especially good for managing groups and other people.” The Grasp went even additional, telling us that our senses, emotions and abilities could be upgraded – perhaps our tastes could be extra delicate and our appreciation of lights, colors and smells could be extra heightened. He took us via numerous meditative strategies in an try to lift our power ranges ranging from 30 proper via to one hundred pc.
Did it work? Come to consider it, we’ve felt a bit extra chill since that session. In addition to, what’s to not like about sitting in a beautiful backyard within the countryside, respiration deeply, being guided on the way to instil extra positivity in our lives whereas taking within the magnificence and stillness of the character round us? Put that approach, it labored a deal with.
Tastebuds heightened, minds targeted – elevated even, it was time to understand a scrumptious bento field crammed with Japanese goodies on the terrace.
Half 2
The best way with clay
Martin Miles-Moore is greater than a ceramicist, he’s a Grasp Potter, or extra particularly, he’s a Grasp Potter who specialises in Chado aka the Japanese Tea Ceremony. “Martin has skilled in dojo for years and takes inspiration from Chado,” Raffaele confirmed. “His approach is all about consideration to element, the visitor expertise and the Japanese aesthetic.” Martin expanded on this by explaining how he made the transition from opera singer to martial artist, earlier than discovering his blissful place working in clay. “I don’t impose my ego on the clay, I work with it, occupied with the way it’s going to be dealt with, when is it going for use and imagining the motion of the tea inside it,” he advised us as he sat on the potters wheel. “The Japanese approach is appreciating the irregularities that we battle to know within the West.”
With these ideas in focus, he proceeded to remodel an abnormal ball of clay into a unprecedented, very delicate vessel of magnificence. Then it was our flip. Solely given time restraints, we didn’t get an opportunity to grasp the wheel, as an alternative, we picked out ‘one which was ready earlier’, a semi-hardened clay cup for us to form, indent and adorn as our moods dictated. Outcomes to observe.
Half 3
Present, inform and suggestions: the ‘Wa’ approach
The Home of Suntory DOJO Programme isn’t a contest – the bartenders work collectively, enhance collectively and share their learnings with one another as they refine the varied processes. This mirrored Wa, the Japanese idea of concord; it’s about working peacefully collectively and is a precept valued and put into follow in all elements of Japanese tradition. Right here, it’s an integral a part of the programme that will get the bartenders to suppose as one.
This a part of the day put Wa into follow whereas pulling all the Monozukuri periods collectively. Which is the place Kaizen, that all-important quest for steady enchancment is available in. Earlier within the programme, every bartender was allotted a basic cocktail – a White Girl, Cosmopolitan or an Previous Long-established say. Then, over the course of the programme, they need to refine it with a purpose to create their Kaizen Basic. This isn’t a case of merely including a twist to their allotted drink. The bartenders are tasked with making the perfect model of a basic fairly than reinvent it. So no fancy flavours, no wild garnishes, nothing that detracts from the unique DNA of the basic. In addition they have to usher in the learnings from the Monozukuri Masterclasses into play. Which makes your entire course of a lot more durable than you may suppose.
However the fantastic thing about DOJO is, fairly than competing in opposition to one another, the bartenders come collectively to refine their Kaizen Classics. And the primary time they obtained to place that into follow was right here. One after one other they showcased their drinks and one after one other they got constructive suggestions from their counterparts. It was an enchanting, very insightful course of – seeing bartenders from completely different bars sharing concepts on how the tiniest tweaks may enhance their fellow bartenders drink. They have been doing it to raised one another fairly than pondering purely about themselves or their bars.
“I like the Japanese fashion of not essentially creating one thing new however working in the direction of perfection,” Will Bockman from A Bar With Shapes For A Title advised us. “As a substitute of including a bunch of issues to a basic and making this loopy, neo-futuristic factor, why don’t we excellent the unique? It’s equally artistic, there’s a lot to be taught and it’s additionally a number of enjoyable.”
In September, they’ll get to showcase their finessed drink in entrance of a panel of judges led by the esteemed bartender/proprietor Hidetsugu Ueno from the legendary Bar Excessive 5 in Tokyo at a ceremony in London. And there’s much more pleasure the place that got here from: the general winner will bag themselves a visit of a lifetime to Japan. Woo-hoo!
Half 4
Concord in a glass: Luxe tasting
Ah, the enjoyment of sitting again and being taken on a journey of style and exploration by somebody who actually is aware of their stuff. This was the place Raffaele showcased his information and keenness for The Home of Suntory merchandise, taking us via the historical past, heritage and craftsmanship behind six actually immaculate whiskies: hiya Yamazaki 12 Years Previous, Yamazaki 18 Years Previous, Hakushu 12 Years Previous, Hakushu 18 Years Previous, Hibiki Japanese Concord Mix and Hibiki 21 Years Previous.
Earlier than leaving the bartenders to get pleasure from dinner, a koto efficiency and their in a single day keep, we simply had time to ask if the masterclasses have already had an affect in the best way they work of their bars. “It’s come throughout in the best way I strategy making drinks,” Ryan advised us. “With regards to drinks growth, I’ve a special outlook on the place I begin, the place I find yourself and the method of getting via it – I be sure that each part is within the drink for a motive. Kaizen has additionally made us take an introspective take a look at ourselves – it’s not only a cocktail that we’re engaged on however when you implement Kaizen into our personal selves as bartenders it makes us take a large, lateral take a look at how we do issues on a day-to-day foundation. It’s not essentially simply how we understand drinks however how we understand all the things.”
Job executed.
